Iraqi Security Forces foil suicide car bomb attack

14 Jun 07
Multi-National Division-Baghdad Public Affairs Office.

BAGHDAD — Iraqi Security Forces prevented a suicide car bomb attack on a Coalition forces combat outpost in Khan Bani Sa’ad, located in the Diyala province, Tuesday.

Iraqi Army Soldiers received a tip and description of a potential suicide vehicle bomb and engaged the vehicle with small-arms fire as it approached the outpost. The vehicle detonated prematurely, before it could reach the outer perimeter.

Two Coalition force Soldiers received minor wounds and were treated on the scene.

“The truly amazing thing is that the Iraqi Soldiers, who are mostly Shia, got the tip from local Sunnis, who had seen a suspicious vehicle driven by masked men traveling towards the outpost,” said Lt. Col. Marshall Dougherty, commander, 2nd squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment, 4th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division.

“This is yet another example of the people of Iraq refusing to allow terrorists to destroy their lives,” Dougherty said.

The tip from the Iraqi citizen allowed the Iraqi Army to seek out and destroy the suicide vehicle borne explosive device, saving the lives of the countless number of casualties both Iraqi and Coalition, said Dougherty.

The Iraqi and Coalition forces have been engaging the local population of Khan Bani Sa’ad for the last several weeks in an effort to gain their trust.

“It’s obvious that despite their tribal or ethnic differences, the people of Khan Bani Sa’ad have come to trust their Iraq Security Forces and no longer will tolerate insurgent violence here,” said Dougherty. “Today was a good day.”

Immediately following the explosion, Iraqi Army Soldiers worked with Iraqi Police to secure the area and collect evidence.

“I could not be more proud of the Iraqi Security Forces today,” Dougherty said.

Iraqi Security Forces and Coalition forces continue to work together in order to gain the trust of the Iraqi people.

“Troop B, 2-1 Cav. Regt. lives and works in the combat outpost with Iraqi Army Soldiers,” Dougherty said.

Tips from Iraqi locals shows the trust they are gaining in the Iraqi Security Forces and their continued dedication to a safe and secure Iraq.

Photo - U.S. Army Spc. Marquis Dawkins, an infantryman assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, surveys more than 120 five-gallon cans of nitric acid, a component used to make bombs, discovered at a bomb-making “factory” in Baghdad’s East Rashid District Monday. Every cache found by Iraqi troops and Coalition forces helps protect the population from future attacks. U.S. Army photo by Spc. Ben Washburn, 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division Public Affairs.